Temple vs. Drexel vs. Delaware (College Guide)

Temple, Drexel, and Delaware can each be a strong choice, but the best fit depends on your major, learning style, budget, and career plan. Compare the same program at all three, check its admission and accreditation rules, and estimate your full cost through graduation. Then weigh campus setting, course structure, and hands-on learning before choosing.

Choosing among three nearby universities can feel like choosing among three versions of the same plan. They differ in campus setting, academic structure, and ways to gain experience, though. A student focused on a specific major may find that one program is a much closer fit than the university’s general reputation suggests.

In my work with families, a common sticking point is comparing overall acceptance rates or tuition before checking whether each school offers the right path to a degree. Start with the major and how you hope to use it. Then compare admissions, courses, cost, and career preparation using current information from each university.

Temple vs. Drexel vs. Delaware: Admissions, Program Fit & Application Requirements

This comparison is most useful when you match the same major, entry term, and applicant type at all three schools. Admission chances can vary by program and application cycle, so a university-wide average is not a reliable prediction. Check current program rules and admissions data before deciding where to apply.

Temple University and Drexel University are in Philadelphia; the University of Delaware is in Newark, Delaware. That setting can affect the kinds of campus and city experiences you want, but it should not replace a close look at your intended program.

MSCHE is the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits institutions. That status does not mean every program has separate professional accreditation or meets the rules for a license. If your career requires a license, verify the exact program and the requirements in the state where you may work.

How to assess admission fit

Admission fit means how your academic record and application align with a program’s current requirements. No single GPA or test score guarantees admission at these universities. Use current Common Data Set (CDS) reports and program pages to understand the applicant pool, not to treat past results as promises.

Review your grades, course rigor, and performance in subjects tied to the major. Then check whether the program requires tests, a portfolio, an audition, prerequisite classes, or other materials. Requirements can differ by school within a university, so do not assume the general first-year checklist covers every program.

Deadlines may also differ by major, applicant type, and entry term. Make one calendar for each school that includes application, priority, scholarship, portfolio, and audition dates where applicable. Confirm dates on official pages before submitting.

A practical plan is to apply to schools where your academic record appears aligned, while including options with different levels of selectivity and cost. Do not label a school a “safety” based only on a general acceptance rate; program capacity and requirements matter.

Degree Curriculum, Credit Systems, Prerequisites & Graduation Requirements

A degree plan shows which courses you must complete to graduate and when you can take them. Compare required courses, electives, prerequisites, and the total credits for your major. A course that counts toward graduation at one school may not fill the same requirement at another.

Temple and Delaware generally use semester credits, and many bachelor’s programs require about 120 credits. Drexel commonly uses quarter credits, with many bachelor’s programs requiring about 180 quarter credits. Those totals are roughly comparable in study volume, but they are not interchangeable counts. The program catalog is the authority, and co-op or other requirements may affect time to completion.

A prerequisite is a course or skill you must complete before taking a later class. If key courses are offered only in certain terms, missing one can delay the next course and, in turn, graduation. Ask each department how students map out required classes and what happens if a course is full or not offered that term.

Transfer students: check credit use, not just credit totals

Transferability is a course-by-course decision. A school may accept a course as credit without applying it to your major or general education requirements. That difference can add time and cost, even if the number of accepted credits looks high.

Before committing, request a written transfer-credit evaluation and a degree audit. A degree audit compares your completed and planned courses with graduation requirements. Ask how many requirements remain, whether any credits expire or have limits, and what term you could reasonably graduate. Do not assume that a credit earned on a semester calendar will count one-for-one in a quarter system.

Academic Support, Co-op/Experiential Learning & Student Experience

Experiential learning means using what you study in settings such as co-op, internships, research, clinical work, or projects. The format and access rules vary by program. Ask what students in your major actually do, when they qualify, and how the experience fits into the degree calendar.

Drexel is known for a co-op model, but you should check whether co-op is part of your intended program, how it is scheduled, and whether participation is required or optional. At Temple and Delaware, investigate the opportunities tied to your specific major rather than assuming that an opportunity is open to every student.

For any school, ask whether experiential work earns credit, pays wages, or adds time to the degree. Also ask how students find placements and whether they must meet a GPA, course, or other eligibility rule. These details can change both the value and the cost of the experience.

Campus visits can help you compare the Philadelphia campuses with Delaware’s Newark setting. Plan to visit a class or department if possible, and ask students about advising, course access, and support in your major. A polished tour is useful, but a conversation about daily academic life can be more revealing.

Illustrative decision scenarios

These are planning examples, not claims about specific students or guaranteed outcomes. They show how a family can apply the same questions to each school without relying on broad labels like “best” or “most practical.”

• A student who wants an urban campus: Compare Temple and Drexel in person, then examine the exact major, course sequence, and hands-on options. The shared Philadelphia setting does not make their academic structures or costs the same.
• A student who values co-op: Check whether Drexel’s program includes co-op and how its schedule affects courses, graduation timing, and expenses. Compare that plan with internships or other experiential options available in the same major at Temple and Delaware.
• A student transferring after two years: Ask all three schools for written course evaluations and a remaining-degree map. Compare the number of credits that fulfill degree requirements, not only the credits accepted.

Cost, Financial Aid & Four-Year Planning

Net price is the estimated cost after grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid. It is more useful than published tuition alone, but it is still an estimate. Compare each school’s net price estimate with a full degree plan that includes living costs and the time your major may require.

Submit the FAFSA to apply for federal student aid and follow each school’s current priority deadlines. A school may also require the CSS Profile for institutional aid; check its aid instructions rather than submitting it automatically. Record grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans separately so you can see which funds must be repaid.

Build a year-by-year estimate, not just a first-year budget. Ask whether scholarships can change after year one and what academic conditions apply. If a co-op schedule or transfer-credit decision could add a term, include that possibility in the total. A lower first-year estimate may not mean a lower cost to graduate.

Career Pathways, Program Accreditation & Employment Outcomes

Career preparation depends on the major, experience, and the rules of the profession you want to enter. Compare program requirements and career services at the department level. University-wide employment or salary figures may not describe outcomes for your major, region, or graduating class.

All three institutions hold MSCHE accreditation. Some fields also require separate program accreditation, exams, supervised hours, or state approval. Check the program’s official accreditation information and the licensing agency for the state where you plan to work. Institutional accreditation by itself does not prove that a degree meets every professional or licensing rule.

Ask departments how students build experience and prepare for work or graduate study. Useful questions include:

• What internships, co-ops, research, or clinical options are available to this major?
• Are there prerequisites or GPA rules for joining them?
• How does the department support students seeking jobs or graduate programs?
• Does it publish outcomes for this specific program and a clearly stated graduating class?
• What costs or extra terms may be tied to required experience?

When reviewing employment data, look for the year, number of students included, response rate, and how the school defines employment. Without that context, a percentage may not allow a fair comparison. For a career that needs a license, verify exam eligibility and state rules before you enroll.

How to Make Your Final Choice

The best choice is the one where you can complete the right degree at a cost you can manage, with a realistic path to the experience your goals require. Compare the same major at each institution and confirm your answers with current catalogs, admissions offices, and financial aid offices.

Use this final checklist:

• Confirm admission requirements and deadlines for your exact program and entry term.
• Compare current course plans, prerequisites, credit totals, and expected graduation timing.
• Check program accreditation or licensing rules if they apply to your career.
• Request a written transfer-credit evaluation if you are transferring.
• Compare net cost, grants, loans, housing, travel, and possible extra terms.
• Visit or speak with students about advising, course access, and hands-on learning.
• Save a term-by-term degree plan before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Temple, Drexel, or Delaware better?
There is no single best choice for every student. Compare the same major, cost, curriculum, and career requirements at each school.

Which school is easiest to get into?
Admission difficulty depends on the program, applicant type, and entry term. Current university-wide statistics cannot guarantee an individual result.

Do Temple, Drexel, and Delaware have the same accreditation?
All three are accredited by MSCHE. A program may also need separate professional accreditation, so verify the rules for your major.

Does Drexel use the same credit system as Temple and Delaware?
No. Drexel commonly uses quarter credits, while Temple and Delaware generally use semester credits. Compare degree requirements using the program catalog, not raw credit totals alone.

Does Drexel require co-op?
Co-op requirements and options depend on the program. Check the curriculum and co-op rules for your intended major.

How should transfer students compare the three schools?
Request a written, course-by-course credit evaluation and a degree audit from each school. Check which credits fulfill requirements and how many terms remain.

Should I compare tuition or net price?
Compare estimated net price and total cost through graduation. Include fees, housing, insurance, transportation, and any likely extra terms.

Do I need the CSS Profile?
Only if a school requires it for the aid you seek. Check each university’s current financial aid instructions and deadlines.

Can a college’s general employment rate predict my career outcome?
Not reliably. Look for data by major, graduating class, and method, and consider your own field, location, and career requirements.

When should I check deadlines?
Check as soon as you choose programs, then confirm dates before each submission. Application, scholarship, portfolio, and audition deadlines may differ.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)